Last-minute Polish

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 Last-minute
Polish
Elisabeth Smith

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 CD recorded at Alchemy Studios, London
Tracks: 1 Introduction, 2 Meet and greet, 3 Getting about, 4 I want …, Speak Last-minute Polish with just 50 words
5 A quick test, 6 Shopping, 7 When?, 8 I have a problem, 9 At a restau-
rant, 10 Great Polish challenge If you are holidaying in Poland for a week or two, you may not fancy
a whole language course. Or perhaps you are off to Poland in less than
a month and are getting anxious about not being able to speak the
language.
For UK order enquiries: please contact Bookpoint Ltd, 130 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4SB.
Telephone: +44 (0) 1235 827720. Fax: +44 (0) 1235 400454. Lines are open 09.00–17.00, Monday to Let Last-minute Polish come the rescue. This last-minute language
Saturday, with a 24-hour message answering service. Details about our titles and how to order are available at
www.teachyourself.com lifeline will help you to learn what you need to get by on your trip.
For USA order enquiries: please contact McGraw-Hill Customer Services, PO Box 545, Blacklick, OH 43004- In less than one week, you’ll learn just enough to help you get about
0545, USA. Telephone: 1-800-722-4726. Fax: 1-614-755-5645.
and not get lost, know the lingo for shopping, have a meal without
For Canada order enquiries: please contact McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd, 300 Water St, Whitby, Ontario L1N
9B6, Canada. Telephone: 905 430 5000. Fax: 905 430 5020. indigestion, even meet and greet the locals.
Long renowned as the authoritative source for self-guided learning – with more than 50 million copies sold
worldwide – the teach yourself series includes over 500 titles in the fields of languages, crafts, hobbies, With 50 useful words plus a few short sentences and some inspired
business, computing and education. body language you can be part of the action!
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: a catalogue record for this title is available from the British
Library. It’s all on this fun CD.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: on file.
First published in UK 2007 as Teach Yourself One-day Polish by Hodder Education, part of Hachette UK, I’ve put some 30 years of teaching experience into this course. I know
338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH. how people learn, what they need to know, and how quickly they get
First published in US 2007 as Teach Yourself One-day Polish by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
bored. That’s why I decided to write this easiest and shortest ever, last-
This edition published 2010.
minute audio course.
The teach yourself name is a registered trade mark of Hodder Headline.
Copyright © 2007, 2010 Elisabeth Smith. Fly with Andy and Magda to Poland, and see how many words you
In UK: All rights reserved. Apart from any permitted use under UK copyright law, no part of this publication
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
can pick up. Then take a look at the booklet – it’s just a few pages that
photocopy, recording, or any information, storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the include:
publisher or under licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Further details of such licences (for
reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited, of Saffron House, 33 Some Polish words that you may have picked up on a previous
6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
In US: All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this
visit.
publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval 33 A few bonus words that you don’t have to learn.
system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
33 50 NEW WORDS – THE ONES THAT YOU’LL NEED. They’ll
Typeset by XXXXX.
make all the difference.
Printed in Great Britain for Hodder Education, an Hachette UK Company, 338 Euston Road, London NW1
3BH, by CPI Cox & Wyman, Reading, Berkshire RG1 8EX. 33 Some useful short sentences – say three words in a row without
The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this getting stuck. You’ll amaze your friends.
book are correct and active at the time of going to press. However, the publisher and the author have no
responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content will
remain relevant, decent or appropriate.
Hachette UK’s policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products and made from
wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the
environmental regulations of the country of origin.
Impression number 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Year 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

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 Words you may know already wołowina – baranina – wieprzowina beef – mutton – pork
wyjazd/wyjście exit
cześć hello
dzień dobry good day
dziękuję thank you
On the CD …
dobrze well, okay
do widzenia goodbye MEET AND GREET, GIVING YOUR NAME, HAVING COFFEE
tak yes
cześć hello
kawa z mlekiem a coffee with milk
dzień dobry good day
proszę please
co słychać? how are you?/how is it going?
autobus the bus
dziękuję thank you
bank the bank
dobrze well, okay
targ or rynek the market
bardzo dobrze very well
supermarket the supermarket
jestem (+ first name) (e.g. I’m Jo) I am
park the park
nazywam się ... (+ surname) my name is …
plaża the beach
do widzenia goodbye
wino, z winem wine, with wine
do zobaczenia until later/see you later
złoty, złote Polish currency
tak yes
jutro tomorrow
kawa z mlekiem a coffee with milk
karta kredytowa the credit card
proszę please
bilet ticket
przepraszam excuse me
dwa two
BONUS WORDS YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEARN

tramwaj the tram bajgiel bagel taksówka taxi GETTING ABOUT, FINDING YOUR WAY

chod my let’s go, we go legia Warsaw well-known Warsaw
gdzie jest ...? where is …?
football team o kurczę! oh dear! (lit. oh chicken!)
autobus the bus
biedronka well-known Polish store
przystanek autobusowy the bus stop
zapiekanka special Polish sandwich
pociąg the train
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 dworzec the station świetnie great, brilliant, excellent
bank the bank iść (on foot)/jechać (using transport) to go
bankomat a cash point, an ATM kupić to buy
targ or rynek the market chcę iść/chcę jechać I want to go to
supermarket the supermarket chciał(a)bym iść/jechać I would like to go
park the park chcę kupić I want to buy
tramwaj the tram chciał(a)bym kupić I would like to buy
ulica the main road, the street do to, to the
plaża the beach chodżmy let’s go, we go
toalety the toilets legia Warsaw well-known Warsaw football team
gdzie są toalety? where are the toilets? o kurczę! oh dear! (lit. oh chicken!)
sklep a shop
gdzie są sklepy? where are the shops? SHOPPING … OR HAVING A DRINK

wino, winem wine biendronka well-known Polish store

prosto straight ahead czy masz …/czy jest …? do you have …?/is there …?
na prawo on the right drogi expensive
na lewo on the left duży big
daleko far więcej more
czy to daleko? is it far? mniej less
wyjazd/wyjście exit pół kilo half a kilo
to wszystko? is that all?, nothing more
I WANT …, A QUICK TEST piwo, piwa beer, beers
chcę I want i and
chciał(a)bym I would like jeden dwa trzy cztery pięć sześć siedem
nie no/not/don’t 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
bajgiel bagel osiem dziewięć dziesięć jedenaście dwanaście
taksówka taxi 8 9 10 11 12
ten (masc)/ta (fem)/to (neuter) this one ile kosztuje …? how much is …?

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 złoty, złote Polish currency kieliszek glass (for alcohol)
bilet ticket zapiekanka special Polish sandwich
dużo much ryba fish
woda gazowana/niegazowana sparkling/still water kurczak chicken
trochę a little mięso meat
wołowina – baranina – wieprzowina beef – mutton – pork
WHEN? AT WHAT TIME? do jedzenia? to eat?/what do you want to eat?
o której godzinie? at what time? smakuje mi/nie smakuje mi I like …/I don’t like … (food)
o … at … podoba mi się … I like … (people)
o drugiej at two, o szóstej at six, o dziesiątej at 10 rachunek the bill
teraz now
za pięć minut in five minutes Your 50 new words
jutro tomorrow
bardzo dobrze very well
I HAVE A PROBLEM jestem (+ first name) (e.g. I’m Jo) I am
chwileczkę one moment nazywam się ... (+ surname) my name is …
przykro mi I am sorry do zobaczenia until later, see you later
karta kredytowa the credit card przepraszam excuse me
tutaj here dwa two
mam I have przystanek autobusowy the bus stop
mam problem I have a problem pociąg the train
nie mam pieniędzy I don’t have any money dworze the station
nic nothing bankomat a cash point, an ATM
ulica the main road, the street
AT A RESTAURANT toalety the toilets
do picia? to drink?/what would you like to drink? sklep a shop
czerwone wino red wine białe wino white wine prosto straight ahead
butelka a bottle na prawo on the right
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 na lewo on the left tutaj here
daleko far nic nothing
nie no/not/don’t czerwone wino red wine
ten (masc)/ta (fem)/to (neuter) this one białe wino white wine
świetnie great, brilliant, excellent butelka a bottle
iść (on foot)/jechać (using transport) to go kieliszek glass (for alcohol)
kupić to buy ryba fish
do to, to the kurczak chicken
drogi expensive mięso meat
duży big rachunek the bill
więcej more
mniej less
Your quick sentences
pół kilo half a kilo
to wszystko is that all?, nothing more Co słychać? How are you?/How is it going?
piwo, piwa beer, beers Gdzie jest ...? Where is …?
i and Gdzie są toalety? Where are the toilets?
jeden dwa trzy cztery pięć sześć siedem Gdzie są sklepy? Where are the shops?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Czy to daleko? Is it far?
osiem dziewięć dziesięć jedenaście dwanaście
Chcę … I want …
8 9 10 11 12
Chciał(a)bym ... I would like ...
dużo much
Chcę iść/chcę jechać I want to go to …
woda gazowana/niegazowana sparkling/still water
Chciał(a)bym iść/jechać ... I would like to go …
trochę a little
o której godzinie? at what time? Chcę kupić ... I want to buy …
o … at … Chciał(a)bym kupić ... I would like to buy ...
teraz now Czy masz .../Czy jest ...? Do you have …? Is there …?
za pięć minut in five minutes Ile kosztuje ...? How much is …?
chwileczkę one moment Przykro mi. I am sorry.
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 Mam ... I have …
Mam problem. I have a problem.
Nie mam pieniędzy. I don’t have any money.
Do picia? To drink?/What would you like to drink?
Do jedzenia? To eat?/What would you like to eat?
Smakuje mi .../Nie smakuje mi ... I like …/I don’t like … (food)
Podoba mi się ... I like … (people)
10
Last_Minute_POLISH.indd 10-11
The Last-minute quiz
Now you are talking!
Answer these 25 questions and get your Last-minute certificate!
How to score
33 Say each answer out loud. Don’t write anything down.
33 Check if it was correct or half correct and award yourself between
0 and 4 points for each answer. Don’t worry if, in your version,
you added or omitted phrases like ‘please’ or ‘excuse me’ in
comparison with the answer key. You don’t need to count these.
33 At the end, add all the points and see how well you have done.
44 60–9 points: good
44 70–9 points: very good
44 80–9 points: excellent
44 90–100 points: outstanding
You can do the quiz three times. Then write your best result on your
certificate.
1 Say ‘good day’, then ask ‘How are you?’
Travel tip
Kissing is taking very seriously in Poland. Family and friends
kiss three times on the cheek on meeting, and older men may
still kiss the back of a lady’s hand.
2 Someone asks you how you are. Say ‘thanks’ and add that you
are very well.
3 Count the even numbers from 2 to 12.
4 Ask someone where a cashpoint is, and add ‘is it far?’
5 Give the opposite of na prawo.
6 You are looking for a tram. Ask someone politely.
7 You want to go to Warsaw (Wraclaw). Ask for the cost of the
fare.
Last-Minute POLISH 11
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 Travel tip
Trains and buses are an inexpensive way to see more of the
country. The local trains are extremely cheap but seats are
uncomfortable. For longer distances choose the fast, express or
intercity trains.
19 A sign in a shop says nie karta kredytowa. What does it mean?
20 You want a beer and a glass of red wine. Ask for it.
21 Tell someone that you don’t have any money.
22 You are looking for the toilets. Ask for them.
23 Tell a sales assistant that you want nothing else.

Travel tip
8 Order yourself a coffee with milk.
If you are souvenir hunting for something typically Polish
9 You want to tell someone that you will see him later. What do you
you may want to look at amber and silver jewellery. Ask for a
say?
Cepelia shop.
10 Ask someone for the way to the shops.
11 Place an order for chicken and a glass of white wine.
12 Introduce yourself with your surname. 24 Ask someone where the main road is.
13 You are in a taxi and want to go somewhere straight ahead. What 25 You are at the przystanek autobusowy. You want to know at
do you say? what time there’s a bus to the (do) supermarket. Ask the question.

Answers
Travel tip 1 Dzień dobry. Co słychać?
Beware when using zebra crossings. In Poland it’s not 2 Dziękuję. Bardzo dobrze
obligatory to stop and most cars don’t. You need to wait for a 3 dwa cztery sześć osiem dziesięć dwanaście
gap in the traffic. 4 Gdzie jes Bankomat? Czy to daleko?
5 Na lewo.
6 Przepraszam, gdzie jes tramwaj?
14 Count backwards form 12 to 7. 7 Chcę iść/Chcę jechać Wraclaw. Ile kosztuje bilet?
15 You’ve been eating out. The bill isn’t right. What would you say? 8 Kawa z mlekiem.
16 Give the opposite of więcej. 9 Do zobaczenia.
17 Say ‘at ten o’clock’. 10 Gdzie są sklepy?
18 The waiter is hovering to take your order. Ask him to return in 11 Chciał(a)bym kurczak i kieliszek białe wino.
five minutes. 12 Nazywam się... (your surname).
13 Prosto, (proszę).
14 Dwanaście, jedenaście, dziesięć, dziewięć, osiem, siedem.
Travel tip 15 Przepraszam, przykro mi, mam problem.
Tipping in restaurants is customary if the service was worth
16 Mniej.
it. Add 10 per cent to the bill and leave it in cash on the table
17 O dziesiątej.
if paying by credit card. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips but can
18 Za pięć minut.
overcharge to compensate for this. Always ask for a receipt.
19 No credit cards
20 Piwo i butelka zerwone wino.
21 Nie mam pieniędzy.

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 223 Gdzie są toalety?
233 To wszystko, dziękuję.
243 Gdzie jes ulica? This is to certify
253 O której godzinie autobus do supermarket?

that
50 words of Polish to say a hundred things!
… and when you’re back from your trip – how did it go?
Dobrze? Dobrze!
e-mail me via my website www.elisabeth-smith.co.uk .....................................

has successfully completed

a six-week course of
Last-Minute Polish
with
.......................
Credits
Front cover: t.b.a. results
Back cover: © Jakub Semeniuk/iStockphoto.com, © Royalty-Free/
Corbis, © agencyby/iStockphoto.com, © Andy Cook/iStockphoto.
com, © Christopher Ewing/iStockphoto.com, © zebicho - Fotolia.com, Date: .............. Instructor: ..........................
© Geoffrey Holman/iStockphoto.com, © Photodisc/Getty Images, ©
James C. Pruitt/iStockphoto.com, © Mohamed Saber - Fotolia.com

14 Last-Minute POLISH 15

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 “Global scale” of the Common European Framework of Reference
for Languages: learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR)
 an understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summa-
C
rise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing
arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/her-
CEFR LEVEL C2

self spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades

TY Level 6

of meaning even in more complex situations.

Proficient User

 an understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise

C
implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously
without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language
CEFR LEVEL C1

flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.

TY Level 5

Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects,

showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and
cohesive devices.

 an understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete

C
and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of
specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that
CEFR LEVEL B2

makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without

TY Level 4

strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of
Independent User

(A Level)

subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages

and disadvantages of various options.

 an understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar

C
matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal
with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the
CEFR LEVEL B1
(Higher GCSE)

language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which

TY Level 3

are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events,

dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations
for opinions and plans.

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to

areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family
(Foundation GCSE)
CEFR LEVEL A2:

information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate

in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of
TY Level 2

information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms

aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in
Basic User

areas of immediate need.

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic
phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can
introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about
CEFR LEVEL A1

personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things
TY Level 1

he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks
slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

© Council of Europe. www.coe.int/lang.

Extract reproduced with the permission of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg

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